Mirror gadget man Dan Silver says that 4K video on Sony's flagship Bravia sets is of even better quality than looking out of a window

Sony 4K set: Breathtaking detail (you'll have to take our word for it)

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Will 2014 be the year that 4K finally takes off?

Walking around the showfloor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, you could be forgiven for thinking that it already has.

The new video display format was everywhere, from the curved TV screens shown off by Samsung, LG and others to camcorders, smartphones and projectors.

At Sony’s keynote presentation on Monday, new president Mike Fasulo compared watching 4K video on his company’s flagship Bravia sets to looking out of a window. He was wrong – it’s better.

The picture quality on the ­Japanese giant’s new series of top-end televisions – what Fasulo refers to as “the reference standard for 4K” – is genuinely breathtaking.

If the transition from SD to HD felt like having scales removed from your eyes, this step up is akin to having them temporarily removed and given a thorough polish.

Several manufacturers unveiled concept 4K TVs with curved screens for increased immersion and a pseudo-3D effect. But a Samsung set that turns from flat to bendy at the push of a button and an LG TV that can be adjusted with the remote went that little bit further.

Sony is perhaps better placed than most to take advantage of the new format. It holds the unique position of being both a ­manufacturer – of everything from professional 4K movie cameras to cinema projectors – and, via Sony Pictures, a content creator.

In Las Vegas Sony also announced that its 4K cameras will be used to film the World Cup final in Brazil. Whether you’ll be able to watch it is a moot point. Sky Sports ­experimented with 4K last year but few industry insiders can even guess when British broadcasters will adopt the format.

Understandably hardware ­manufacturers are trying to fill the void themselves. Samsung, Sony and LG all announced partnerships with Netflix at the show. Its CEO Reed Hastings confirmed that all its own new series – including the second season of the political drama House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey – are being filmed in 4K.

Sony has also struck deals with YouTube, ESPN and photography website 500px, while its own Video Unlimited download service is expanding to offer 140 feature films in 4K.

And its new Bravia television sets have impressive upscaling software built in which will make your existing SD and HD content look dramatically better, too.

I also got my hands on Sony’s stunningly-small 4K Handycam. When it launches in the UK this spring it will let you create your own 4K content. As long as you have £2,000 to spare, that is. Which highlights 4K’s main drawback – cost.

Early adopters looking to buy the cheapest 4K TV won’t get much change from £4,000. And despite all the big manufacturers at CES loudly declaring the new format as their main focus in 2014, none would commit to price strategies.

As we saw with HD sets, those costs will eventually tumble, but it’s unlikely to happen any time soon.

The 4K revolution will be televised, but you might have to wait a little longer to be able to watch it in your own home.

Key trends for 2014

What else was trending at the Consumer Electronics Show?

Virtual reality gaming

Virtual reality could finally go mainstream this year. Oculus Rift is leading the charge with its incredible gaming headset, which offers full 360 degree, stomach churningly realistic 3D for PC games. It should finally get a commercial release later this year.

Virtually here: Oculus Rift set

Hi res audio

Sony is championing this new audio format, which aims to redress the loss of sound quality suffered by MP3s. With between three and seven times the amount of information per track than music stored on compact discs, it’s a real treat for the ears.

Listen up: Sony sound

Wearable tech

From connected watches and wristbands to jewellery that lights up when your phone receives a text, wearable tech was everywhere at CES. Mention must go to Sensoria, though, for its Bluetooth-enabled socks and sports bras (yes, really) designed to help athletes monitor their performance.